RM Sotheby’s, Amelia Island, Florida, March 12, 2016
Amelia 2015 was an anniversary for RM Sotheby’s, a year since the strategic partnership between them debuted at this auction. After a highly successful first year RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island auction was a successful start to the second year.
The total sale was down significantly from last year’s blockbuster result but 2015 was a hard act to follow and the $38.7 million total in 2016 continues the trend of earlier years. In fact, by any measure other that last year in all except the sale rate the 2016 Amelia Island numbers were healthy.
Strength was spread throughout collecting areas. Just among the nine million dollar lots there were two late model supercars, a Ferrari 288 GTO and nearly brand new Pagani Huayra and two classics, a ’32 Packard Twin Six and lovely ’31 Stutz DV-31 Convertible Victoria, balancing Ferraris, Bentley and Cobra from the ‘50s and ‘60’s.
Outstanding transactions included the 1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback. Estimated at $1.2-1.4 million it hammered sold at $1,650,000, a quarter million dollars over its high estimate. And not to be overlooked (which isn’t hard since it was no bigger than a gnat’s splat) was the Peel P50, a sub-microcar not much bigger than a motel room fridge, that was estimated at $75-100,000 and sold on a hammer bid of $160,000.
There is no doubt, however, that prices are being adjusted and there is less willingness among buyers to splurge on something that suits their fancy on the spur of the moment, something that also is being seen in the art market. RM appears to have adjusted its estimates, and often the expectations of its consignors, with some success to reflect the evolving market.
There was one sad note. Max Girardo wasn’t on the auction block for RM, his father having died just days before the sale. Eli Rodriguez from Sotheby’s stepped in on short notice and did his homework. He looked like Max (right down to the 5 o’clock shadow) and sounded like Max although without the accent or seamless transition among languages. Our most best wishes go out to Max.
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Andrew Newton contributed many of the on-site observations; the editor remains responsible for the final content and comments.
RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2016 – Auction Report
Lot # 106 1964 Porsche 356 SC Coupe, Body by Reutter; S/N 128987; Engine # 811655; Champagne Yellow/Black; Estimate $140,000 – $180,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $110,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $121,000 – Steel wheels with hub caps, Dunlop tires, sunroof, Nardi woodrim steering wheel, VDO dash clock, Blaupunkt AM/FM pushbutton. – Passenger’s side door isn’t flush. Lightly cracked mirror gasket. Big gouge out of the left tailpipe. Very good, lightly worn interior. Very good paint. Beautiful car, and its few flaws are easy to overlook. Restored in 2003 and equipped with a rebuilt replacement gearbox. – This transaction is another sign of the Porsche market not being as hot as it was a year ago. In 2013, this car was sold at Mecum Houston for $93,625. Two years later, it was sold by RM in Arizona last year for $159,500. It was a no reserve lot and only the second car of the day to cross the block at the Ritz, but the difference between the last two sales is still significant in the Porsche 356 trend.
Lot # 107 1960 Chevrolet Impala Convertible; S/N 01867L189246; Roman Red, Ermine White/Red, White vinyl with houndstooth cloth inserts; White vinyl top; Estimate $40,000 – $50,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $66,000 – 348/335hp, Tri-Power, Turboglide, Red steel wheels with spinner wheel covers, Remington whitewalls, dual mirrors, dual antenna, Continental kit, rear fender skirts, bench seat, column shift, power steering, power brakes, pushbutton radio, heater. – Very good older paint and chrome. Small chips at the front of the driver’s side door. Slightly dirty top. Slightly discolored white upholstery inside. Slightly dull original gauges. Lightly worn older cloth. Older looking steering wheel. Tidy, lightly used engine bay. A fun cruiser that was probably immaculate when first restored, but that was clearly some time ago. There is no representation that this driveline is how it was originally configured. – It’s not the kind of car usually seen at RM and its condition left some things to be desired, but in terms of equipment, body style and arguably color it’s the most desirable ’60 Impala of them all. It sold for well over RM’s presale estimate, but was an appropriate result for an attractive driver probably powered by a replacement drivetrain.
Lot # 114 1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I Sedan; S/N LSKG39; Engine # SG19; Shell Grey, Claret/Gray leather piped in Maroon; Estimate $90,000 – $120,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $82,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $90,750 – Wheel covers, Silvertown whitewalls, Lucas driving lights, dual mirrors, modern custom walnut steering wheel, Radiomobile pushbutton radio, armrests, fold out tables in back, dome courtesy light, factory air conditioning, power windows. – Small crack at the bottom of the right A-pillar. Lightly cracked windshield molding. Otherwise very good repaint. Very good, barely worn interior. Good older chrome. Clean underneath. Showing a substantial 91,058 miles and wearing a 1980s restoration, this is a thoroughly presentable, usable car if not a show winner any more having had its RROC class winning days. – No one will have make excuses for this Rolls-Royce, or for the price it brought. It is an outstanding example, especially when so many of these have seen minimal care in their later years and been subjected to repaints barely better than Earl Sheib. Quality still shows, and this car has it.
Lot # 115 1930 Cord Front Drive L-29 Cabriolet; S/N 2928140; Engine # FD3266A; Blue, Light Blue accent/Light Blue leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $185,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $203,500 – Chrome wire wheels, Lester wide whitewalls, Twilite headlamps, dual sidemount spares with mirrors, suicide doors, golf bag door, rear luggage rack, jump seat. – Sound older paint with a small scratch and a sizable chip on the right front fender. Slightly dirty top. Dirty exhaust tip. Small cracks in the bodywork on the tail. Very good interior. Done well and done right by marque expert Ken Clark, but done a while ago. The L-29 was one of the sleekest cars you could buy in its day, and it’s made even more eye-catching with bright two-tone colors like these. – Sold at RM Monterey in 2009 for $187,000. The careful presentation of this car during its Ken Clark restoration is the attention to original factory finishes, a car done to showroom condition, not fluffed up to beyond perfect. It is a car to be proud to own, drive and show, and with proper attention will be for many years to come.
Lot # 116 1963 Maserati Sebring Coupe, Body by Vignale; S/N AM10101549; Engine # AM10101549; Amaranto Roma/Black leather; Estimate $275,000 – $350,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $295,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $324,500 – 3485/235hp, Lucas injection, 5-speed, Borrani wire wheels, Michelin tires, Nardi woodrim steering wheel, Jaeger console clock, power windows, comes with a Weber carburetor setup. – Very clean engine bay. Long scratch and touched up chips on the nose. Sound older paint and chrome otherwise. Lightly worn, sound interior. A lightly used older restoration. Lightly modified by its second owner, Buick engineer Joe Lurlay, in period before being restored to original configuration in the early 2000s. – Right before its restoration, this car was hammered not sold at a high bid of $20,000 by Kruse in Scottsdale in 1999 with Webers and some body bubbles, so this massive result, which would be expensive even for a show-winning Maserati Sebring, shows just how much the market has grown in the past decade and a half.
Lot # 119 1972 Jaguar XKE SIII V12 Roadster; S/N UC1S20621; Engine # 7S7424SB; Light Blue/Dark Blue; Black cloth top; Estimate $70,000 – $100,000; Enthusiast restoration, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $85,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $93,500 – Centerlock chrome wire wheels, Dunlop tires, dark blue vinyl boot cover, factory pushbutton radio. – Fairly worn original seats and switchgear. Toggle switch for the choke is crooked. Wavy dash top. Excellent paint in original color and excellent chrome. Very clean underneath. Grille doesn’t quite fit flush. Has flaws and age, but they really are minor and are offset by good paint and chrome in gorgeous colors. You’ll only notice any flaws once you’re inside. – An auction veteran. Sold at Worldwide Lake Forest in 2013 for $44,000, then hammered not sold at Worldwide Montgomery in 2014 at a high bid of $54,000 and sold at Auctions America Santa Monica last year for $70,400. It’s a representative trajectory of V-12 E-Type values, with this result being slightly expensive for an example in this condition.
Lot # 121 1985 Ford RS200 Evolution Coupe, Body by Ghia; S/N SFACXXBJ2CGL00070; Engine # BDT0018; White/Red cloth; Estimate $500,000 – $700,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $475,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $522,500 – Speedline wheels, Pirelli P700 tires, braided steel lines, power windows, Pioneer cassette stereo, Sparco bucket seats with Sabelt harnesses, fire extinguisher. – Cleaned up engine bay. Big touched up chip and a few stress cracks on the nose. Slightly dirty wheels. Very clean interior. Showing 461 miles, but not quite like new. – The RS200 was the world’s fastest accelerating production automobile when it was new, and the Evolution, of which only 24 were built, had a larger 2.1-liter engine and upgraded suspension and brakes. Setting a value on a rare version of an already rare rally homologation special isn’t always straightforward, but Gooding sold another very good RS200 Evolution in Pebble Beach last year for $539,000, so it’s probably safe to call half a million dollars the going rate.
Lot # 123 1980 Ferrari 512 BB Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 33715; Engine # 729; Rosso Corsa, Black sills/Black leather; Estimate $275,000 – $325,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $270,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $297,000 – Quadruple triple-choke Webers, Cromodora centerlock wheels, Michelin tires, Nardi leather-wrapped steering wheel, power windows, Borletti air conditioning, Pioneer cassette stereo, EPA letter. – Light curb rash on all but the right front wheel. Decent single repaint. Large touched up chip on the nose and another sizable bare one above it. Crack between hood vent and headlight door. Cracks behind the right window. Chips on engine cover vents. Worn but sound upholstery. Federalized in New Jersey in 1980. Last reported major service in 2007. A mostly original 44,797-mile car showing its age, but not badly so. – Bought modestly for a Berlinetta Boxer, but even as well maintained and looked after as it is having not been fully serviced since 2007 it will head straight for a Ferrari shop where low five-figures will be added to its acquisition cost to bring its maintenance up to date, and possibly more depending on what the shop finds. It is a reasonable risk at this price but at any more it gets into crapshoot territory.
RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2016 – Auction Report Page Two
Lot # 124 1957 Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Coupe, Body by Touring; S/N AR1900C10596; Engine # AR130810564; Red, Silver roof/White leather piped in Red; Estimate $325,000 – $375,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $275,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $302,500 – 1975/115hp, dual Webers, 5-speed, centerlock wire wheels, Michelin tires, dual mirrors, Nardi woodrim steering wheel, floor shift, Autovox radio. – Very good 2013 paint and chrome. Small chips at the back of the passenger’s side door. Lightly worn and discolored seats and carpets from a restoration done before the most recent one in 2013. Clean and restored engine bay and underbody. A thoroughly pleasing and attractive Alfa documented by Alfa Automobilismo Storico as matching numbers. – Sold by Bonhams in Scottsdale two years ago for $222,200 freshly restored, which makes today’s price an impressive jump.
Lot # 126 1976 Porsche 911 Carrera Turbo Coupe; S/N 9306800466; Engine # 6860475; Platinum Metallic/Brown leather; Estimate $275,000 – $350,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $280,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $308,550 – 2993/234hp, single turbo, 4-speed, black spider Fuchs wheels, Pirelli P6000 tires, sunroof, whale tail, rear window wiper, Blaupunkt cassette stereo, VDO dash clock, fire extinguisher, power windows, air conditioning. – Dash top is slightly wavy. Fantastic original paint other than very light chips at the back of the driver’s side door. Like new original interior. Showing a claimed original 20,093 miles, and it looks like all of them were careful. California car. It would be more remarkable if there weren’t so many well kept early 930s popping up for sale, but it’s still an admirable car. – According to the catalogue, the consignor bought this car in 2014, when it was worth approximately half of what it brought in Amelia two years later. It’s an appropriate result for a very good all-original first year 930 with an appreciable originality premium. The seller rode the 911 wave with admirable success. It was a good time to get out.
Lot # 127 1949 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet ‘Malmaison’, Body by Pourtout; S/N 801199; Engine # 801199; Dark Blue/Beige leather; Beige top; Estimate $500,000 – $800,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $450,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $495,000 – RHD. 3558/115hp, triple Solexes, 4-speed Cotal pre-selector, chrome centerlock wire wheels, Firestone wide whitewalls, Marchal headlights and driving lights, beige leather boot cover, banjo spoke steering wheel, bench seat, dash clock, skirts, suicide doors. – Stress crack right ahead of driver’s side door and numerous chips around it. Small hammered out dent and crack just above the right front wheel. Blisters at the back of the driver’s side door. Two dings in the rear bumper and microblisters on the left rear fender. Long crack right above the left front wheel. Chips around both doors. Lightly worn and discolored interior. One of only a handful made. Restored many years ago. Not a bad car, but there are far too many paint issues to call it a really good one. Fresh cosmetics would make all the difference in the world for this otherwise gorgeous, rare car. – One of a few automobiles built in France in the days after World War II on pre-war chassis before confiscatory taxation made them unaffordable and all but killed automobile manufacturing the the cradle of the automobile. Pourtout’s ‘Malmaison’ coachwork, without the chrome swoops and trim that burdened some other postwar French coachwork, highlights the sweeping curves and thoughtfully balanced design. Even the front with its low-mounted headlights in the fender catwalks accents and defines the traditional Delahaye grille. It would look better, though, as built with body color wheels. Offered in comparable condition but different livery at The Auction in Las Vegas in 1991, it was bid to $275,000 and could have been yours for $550,000. Better, apparently, to wait. It is a superb automobile and it brought a marvelous but realistic price from someone with very good taste.
Lot # 133 1997 Porsche 911 Turbo S Coupe; S/N WP0AC2995VS375774; Engine # 61V01882; Forest Green Metallic/Cashmere Beige leather; Estimate $400,000 – $475,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $450,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $495,000 – 3601/424hp, twin turbos, 6-speed, all wheel drive, Yellow calipers, cross-drilled rotors, Pirelli P Zero tires, sunroof, spoiler, rear wiper, carbon fiber dash, factory CD stereo, cruise control, power seats, power windows, air conditioning, biplane wing. – Fantastic paint. Clean wheels. Light visible wear on the seats but otherwise like new interior. Fantastically kept example of one of the most sought after 993s with 13,379 miles from new, and in a rare and pretty color to boot. – The 993 Turbo S is one of the most developed, fastest and rarest air-cooled 911 road cars you can buy, but half a million dollars and over three times what it cost new might seem excessive for a 19-year old car. Gooding sold a very similar car here last year for $440,000, though, so this result is no fluke although with 375 built in all and 183 for North America how many others there may in comparable condition (many?) hangs over the market for them.
Lot # 136 1962 Rolls-Royce Phantom V Limousine, Body by Mulliner; S/N 5LBX4; Engine # P3563; Tudor Grey, Silver/Light Blue leather in front, Gray cloth in rear; Estimate $125,000 – $175,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $95,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $104,500 – 6230/220hp V-8, Hydra-Matic, wheel covers, whitewalls, Lucas driving lights, suicide rear doors, wood dash and window trim, power glass division, mini bar with crystal and decanters, footrests, power windows. – Notch-back formal bodywork by Mulliner before being merged with Park Ward. Paint cracks at the top of the B-pillars. Small cracks at the front of the driver door. Long, light scratch on the left front fender and a small scuff further up ahead of the wheel. Lightly scratched front bumper. Slightly wavy body sides. Very good interior and excellent wood other than cracking around the power window switches and cigarette lighters in the rear. Other than a repaint on the lower half of the body it’s original. A gorgeous coachbuilt Rolls that reveals forgivable flaws only upon close inspection. – For an automobile produced in such minuscule quantities there have been three PVs across auction blocks so far in this year, all with limousine bodies although by three different bespoke coachbuilders. It is even today the ultimate in luxury and its condition despite a few faults is exceptional. Its result falls in the middle of an $82,500-$140,800 range which is appropriate if slanted toward good value for its rare body style.
Lot # 138 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 1980427500387; Engine # 1989807500392; Silver/Burgundy leather; Burgundy cloth top; Estimate $1,000,000 – $1,300,000; Concours restoration, 1- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $950,000 – Hub caps and trim rings, Michelin Harmony tires, fire extinguisher, racing lap belts, VDO dash clock, Becker Mexico stereo, Euro headlights, fitted luggage, 3.25 rear axle. – Original engine, transmission and body as documented on the chassis card. Tidy used engine bay. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Other than a few spots of dirt and grease under the hood, it looks show ready and has won its class at Amelia Island and Hilton Head. With the consignor for the past 42 years and fully restored in 2002, although the restoration doesn’t look anywhere near that old. – This is an exceptional 300SL Roadster, but with its older restoration it could have been sold with only slight, if any, regret by its owner of 42 years. The difference between $1 million and $0.95 million has no real effect upon the consignor’s retirement.
Lot # 139 1968 Ferrari 330 GTS Spider, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 10817; Engine # 10817; Yellow/Beige leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $2,300,000 – $2,600,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,900,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $2,090,000 – Chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Vredestein tires, Becker Europa AM-FM, air conditioning, power windows. – Good paint and lightly used upholstery. Orderly but not fresh underhood with a big grease gob on the fuel line. Underbody painted over old undercoat. Lightly scuffed trim chrome. A good driver quality GTS. – Sold by Gooding & Company in Scottsdale a year ago for $2,420,000 and unchanged since then, not even getting attention to the grease drip on the fuel line while accumulating just 358 more km on the odometer. It’s a fair car, but eminently driveable, and it brought a fair price even if it is a lot less than it sold for fourteen months ago.
Lot # 141 1911 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost 40/50hp Tourer, Body by Lawton; S/N 1544; Engine # 45S; Ivory, Polished aluminum hood/Red leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $2,500,000 – $3,500,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $2,100,000 – RHD. Lucas acetylene headlights, kerosene sidelights, Boa Constrictor bulb horn, centerlock Rudge Whitworth varnished spoke wood wheels, folding windshield, single sidemount spare. – Original engine, chassis and body. Good older paint with cracking joints. Bright nickel trim, good lightly patinaed upholstery. Aged but clean and orderly engine compartment could use a few hours with rags and Brasso. Restored for Dr. Samuel Scher at Jack Barclay in London. Cosmetics have been redone since and are newer than the 1965 RROC National Award plaque. Its show days are over, but many tours are left. – A tremendously impressive early ‘parallel bonnet’ Silver Ghost that has never seen service as a tow vehicle or powered a water pump. With all its original important bits and pieces, a provenance that includes Dr. Scher, Harry Resnick and the Craven Foundation, and wonderful preservation of its now half century old Jack Barclay restoration, this is an exceptional automobile, but fortunately too well preserved to re-re-restore but not so good it can’t be driven, a situation where a Silver Ghost is concerned, that is the best of all possible worlds and it is not a surprise that the seller chose to wait for a more generous offer. It’s that wonderful.
RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2016 – Auction Report Page Three
Lot # 143 1962 Kurtis Aguila Roadster; S/N 62S1; Black, Red stripe/Red vinyl; Estimate $450,000 – $600,000; Competition restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $385,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $423,500 – 327/350hp Chevy with three deuce intake, 4-speed, polished centerlock alloy wheels, 6.00×16 Dunlop Racing tires, single offset seat, paperclip rollbar, fuel cell, 4-wheel disc brakes, torsion bar sprung live axles – Excellent paint and interior. Engine and chassis are orderly but not overdone. A somewhat amazing vehicle built by Frank Kurtis for Herb Stelter that has removable fenders and is thus suitable for both open wheel and road racing. It was not successful at either and was stored for years until restored in the early 90’s. Now used more for display than competition, but should be gratifying no matter how it is used. – An intriguing piece of American race car history, sold by RM in Arizona in 2009 for $165,000. Subsequently brought to its present state of immaculate presentation at Canepa’s in California. A unique creation displaying both ingenuity and the high level of craftsmanship characteristic of Frank Kurtis’s work it represents a rare and attractive sound value at this price.
Lot # 146 2003 Aston Martin DB AR1 Convertible, Body by Zagato; S/N SCFAE62353K800089; Engine # 455; Tungsten Silver/Claret Red leather; Estimate $250,000 – $300,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $330,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $363,000 – 5935/435hp V12, fuel injection, 6-speed, Pirelli P Zero tires, Brembo brakes, diamond pattern stitching, dash clock, power windows, factory stereo, air conditioning. – Left horn button is loose on the steering wheel. Long scratch on the left front wheel. Very lightly worn seats and shift knob. Only signs of light use on a lightly used car with less than 700 miles on it. Number 89 of 99 DB AR1 Zagatos built. – Sold at Gooding & Company Scottsdale in 2010 for $170,500. These cars, which had a $225,000 MSRP, have since caught the attention of collectors and several have shown up at high-end auction in recent years. Even so, this is an over the top result well above RM’s presale estimate and beyond much explanation other than that two determined bidders faced off in a contest of wills.
Lot # 147 1954 Bentley R-Type Continental 4.9L Fastback, Body by H.J. Mulliner; S/N BC2LD; Engine # BCD2; Maroon/Putty leather; Estimate $1,200,000 – $1,400,000; Concours restoration, 1- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,650,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,815,000 – 4887/178hp six, dual carbs, 4-speed with center shift, wheel covers, Dunlop Road Speed tires, Lucas driving lights, Flying B hood ornament, rear fender skirts, radio, dash clock, wood dash and window trim. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Bottom trim on fender skirts isn’t quite flush. Restoration by Vantage Motorworks and shown at Pebble Beach after completion in 2009. Class winner at Amelia Island in 2010. With left-hand drive, the 4.9-liter engine, fender skirts and central shift, it ticks all the right boxes and its condition is spectacular. – Despite being a fairly large automobile the Mulliner fastback succeeds in being immediately attractive and appealing, exuding a rare combination of luxury and performance that sets its own standard for class and exclusivity. This one is beautifully restored and maintained, with an unblemished history of four caring owners, one of whom drove it so much the odometer rolled over. Its combination of style, flair, history and presentation won over the bidders at the Ritz and pushed it to a deserved, if expensive, over-estimate result.
Lot # 150 1965 Jaguar XKE SI 4.2 Coupe; S/N 1E30680; Engine # 7E27809; Dark Blue/Beige leather; Estimate $100,000 – $140,000; Older restoration, 1- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $145,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $159,500 – Centerlock wire wheels, Uniroyal tires, woodrim steering wheel, Sanyo AM/FM pushbutton radio. – Headlight bezels aren’t quite flush. Excellent paint without flaw. Very lightly worn restored interior. Very clean underneath. Restored in 2008 and received an engine-out service in 2014. Still fresh, just driven a little bit. – Sold at Bonhams Quail Lodge in 2008, right after restoration and JCNA wins, for $111,150. Then sold at RM Monterey 2014 for $159,500. Both parties can be satisfied with the result here althoug with only 16 more miles showing on its odometer now than it had two years ago in Monterey the seller missed out on a great driving experience.
Lot # 152 1986 Ferrari Testarossa Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFTA17S000061421; Engine # 440; Red/Black leather; Estimate $130,000 – $170,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $165,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $181,500 – Michelin TRX tires, single flying mirror, Momo leather-wrapped steering wheel, power windows, air conditioning, DOT release letter. – Small chip at the front of the passenger’s side door and another on the bottom strake on that side as well. Sound original paint otherwise. Paint chipped off keyhole on driver’s side. Good lightly worn original interior. Delivered new in Turkey, but shortly made its way to the US. Not perfect but well kept and showing 40,780 km. – The ‘flying mirror’ was an expedient necessitated by the wide rear haunches of the Testarossa that blinded a conventional lower outside mirror placement, although in the words of ‘Gumball Rally’s’ Franco Bertollini (Raul Julia), ‘What’s behind me is not important.’ Compared with other Testarossas in the Amelia Island auctions this is a superior result appropriate to this car’s condition and originality.
Lot # 153 2005 Porsche Carrera GT Coupe; S/N WP0CA29895L001460; GT Silver Metallic/Ascot Brown, Black leather; Estimate $750,000 – $850,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $650,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $715,000 – Yellow calipers, cross-drilled rotors, Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires, wood shift knob, factory stereo, power windows, air conditioning. – Number 949 of 1,270 built. One owner, like new and showing 1,184 miles. Fresh clutch and full service. – Carrera GTs show up frequently, usually like this one with barely more than delivery miles. With 650hp from its 5.7 liter V10 it has awesome performance that, as a recent celebrity death in one shows, needs to be approached with care not abandon. This is an appropriate result for this car although it is off by a hundred thousand dollars or more from the prices they were bringing a year ago as they come to market (five have been offered just since the beginning of this year) in response to big prices.
Lot # 154 1927 Avions Voisin C14 2-Dr. Coach Lumineuse; S/N 28068; Engine # 28152; Black, Black leatherette roof/Red pattern cloth; Estimate $800,000 – $1,000,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $650,000 – RHD. wheel discs, running board luggage trunk, rear mounted trunk and spare, Marchal spotlight on the right rear roof post, opening windshield with visor, Marchal headlights. – Good older, paint with a different dark grey color top hood panel. Good upholstery. Underbody shows road kilometers. Aluminum trim is dull. It has been attended to as needed, including sourcing, rebuilding and installing its original sleeve valve engine. – In sharp contrast to the Porsche Carrera GT offered just before it, this Voisin is style and performance of an entirely different nature. Gabriel Voisin didn’t think like mainstream automobile designers and manufacturers and his creations abound in intricate details as well as original concepts. While the reported high bid is ample, the consignor’s decision not to accept it is understandable.
Lot # 156 1960 Porsche 356B Super Cabriolet, Body by Reutter; S/N 152629; Engine # 84903; Light Ivory, Red hardtop/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $220,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $242,000 – 1582/75hp, 4-speed, steel wheels and hub caps, Michelin XZX tires, luggage rack and fitted luggage, gold brightwork, black cloth boot cover, woodrim steering wheel, Blaupunkt radio, California black plates, hardtop and soft top. – Perfect top. Like new paint and brightwork. Excellent interior. In storage from 1966 to 2011 with an unresolved engine problem. Then restored in 2012 and reportedly driven less than 50 miles since. Now having 56,255 miles from new, It is like new and has abolutely nothing to pick on. – Expensive but not excessive for a top-notch car. Collectors of high-end sports cars seek and are willing to pay for the best, as transactions like this show.
Lot # 157 1925 Bugatti Type 30 Tourer; S/N 4725; Engine # 418; Yellow, Black fenders/Brown leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $500,000 – $650,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $400,000 – 1991/100hp sohc eight, dual Solexes, black wire wheels, Marchal headlamps, raked vee windshield, woodrim steering wheel, bench seat, center throttle, right brake, rear-mounted spare wheel. – Thin old paint on the hood. Good paint otherwise. Dull brightwork. Cracked, dry windshield molding. Very good used interior. A basic older restoration of the first production eight-cylinder Bugatti with the usual signs of use and long drives. Replacement Type 30 engine, original frame, transmission and rear axle. Not the most elegant car with a Bugatti badge and showing age, but still a great car for vintage tours. – The combination of its aged condition and coachwork that is not attributed to any recognized coachbuilder, although attractive and practical, weighed on this Type 30’s value in the eyes of the RM Sotheby’s bidders. The owner has now to reexamine expectations in light of the collector community’s expressed opinion.
RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2016 – Auction Report Page Four
Lot # 158 1958 AC Aceca Bristol Coupe; S/N BEX678; Engine # 100D2859; Black/Red leather; Estimate $200,000 – $240,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $190,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $209,000 – 120hp 100D2 engine, overdrive 4-speed, triple Solexes, centerlock wire wheels, Michelin X tires, woodrim steering wheel, wood dash and window trim, Radiomobile pushbutton radio. – Ex-John Moir. Very good paint and chrome. Small cracks at the back of the right hood vents and around the back of the hatch. Lightly scratched window frames. Dull but presentable original dash. Sound older upholstery. Redone wood. Tiny dent at the front of the driver’s side door. Fully documented history and restored years ago at the AC factory in Thames-Ditton. – Sold at RM Hershey in 2014 for $214,500 during the high profile disposition of John Moir’s collection. Such highly publicized auctions of highly regarded collections usually bring high water mark prices so this result, with in a 3% margin, is a strong endorsement of this car’s quality and the robust market for quality AC Ace and Aceca automobiles.
Lot # 159 1930 Stutz SV-16 Monte Carlo 2-Dr. Sedan, Body by Weymann; S/N M854CD27S; Tan, Brown fenders and accent/Beige cloth; Estimate $550,000 – $650,000; Concours restoration, 1 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $500,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $550,000 – 322/113hp eight, 3-speed, chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, dual sidemounts with mirrors, luggage trunk, Ryan-Lite headlights. – Concours restored by RM in 2002 with only a few miles. Pebble Beach class winner in 2002, Glemoor Gathering Best in Show, Most Elegant Closed Car at Amelia in 2005. Then freshened and a class winner last year at Amelia and Pebble. Beautiful interior wood and upholstery. Excellent exterior leatherette. – Sold here three years ago for exactly the same price as it brought today. It’s taken some subsequent work to bring it back to full concours presentation, but the seller also has reaped the concours awards to go with it. To say the price is reasonable is an historical understatement.
Lot # 160 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Coupe, Body by Scaglietti; S/N 15271; Engine # B1738; Rosso Chiaro/Black leather; Estimate $750,000 – $825,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $550,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $605,000 – Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires, six Webers, MSD ignition, power windows, air conditioning, Becker Mexico stereo, fire extinguisher, full tool roll, jack, owner’s manuals, warranty card. – A few tiny chips on the nose. Good paint and chrome otherwise. Almost spotless engine bay. Lightly worn interior but significantly faded and discolored dash top. Sold new in Los Angeles. Cosmetic restoration in 2002 and got an engine and transaxle rebuild shortly thereafter. The work included high-compression pistons, euro-spec exhaust and different ignition that resulted in 409 hp on the dyno. – While quicker than a factory Daytona, modifications tend to detract from a Ferrari’s value and this car’s less than stellar presentation didn’t do it any favors, either. A no reserve lot, it didn’t stand out among the distinguished lots at RM’s Amelia Island sale and the hammer fell quickly at a bargain price. Bringing a mediocre car to auction can be a risk, and in this case things did not work out for the seller. They did, however, result in the seller getting a dyno-tested 409hp Daytona that should be an absolute ball to drive. Call it a good value for an enthusiastic driver in a car that looks stock except for the upgraded ignition boxes.
Lot # 161 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980405500397; Engine # 1989805500396; Ivory/Red leather; Estimate $1,300,000 – $1,500,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,150,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,265,000 – Body color Rudge centerlock wheels, Michelin XWX tires, hinged steering wheel, fitted luggage, Becker Mexico radio. – Excellent paint, fresh, inviting interior, brilliant chrome. Better than new with very little use since it was restored. – This Gullwing hits pretty much all the hot buttons and brought a hot button price.
Lot # 163 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 3949SA; Engine # 56SA; Metallic Blue/Cognac pigskin; Estimate $2,700,000 – $3,300,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $4,000,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $4,400,000 – Philips multiband radio, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Pirelli blackwall tires, covered Marchal headlights, Marchal fog lights in the grille. – Ordered new by Erwin Goldschmidt and retained for more than forty years by him and his son Anthony. Featured in several publications and often displayed. Restored in 1977 and carefully maintained since, earning a Gold award at Cavallino in 2006, then restored again for the present owner in these colors. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Restored like new, fresh and sharp. – Sold by Gooding at Pebble Beach in 2012 for $2,150,000 s/n 3949SA was showing the age of its 70’s restoration, condition that is completely reversed by the fresh Dennison International restoration. In the process the color has been changed from Rosso Cina over black leather to the present livery which looks marvelous. The odometer has added 1,226 miles to its count. It was modestly estimated by RM and the bidders made the decision to blow the estimate into the weeds, just like this 340hp Superamerica would blow pretty much anything else on the road in 1962 into the weeds. Expensive but beautiful and ready to show with pride and confidence.
Lot # 164 2014 Pagani Huayra Coupe; S/N ZA9H11UAXESF76062; Blue Argentina, Gold accent/Cream leather, Grey Alcantara; Estimate $1,900,000 – $2,200,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,850,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $2,035,000 – 720hp 6-liter twin turbo M-B V12, 7-speed gearbox, carbon fiber trim, 7-piece fitted luggage. – All but new, with under 400 miles. Cost seven figures new, including $260,000 in options like the luggage, one of 100 to be built. – Amazing probably isn’t strong enough to describe the Huayra. The interior is a feast of surfaces and details, a Spyker design on steroids. It has computer controlled flaps at each corner that adjust for downforce, drag or to counteract body roll. It is just over the top, even if the price it brought reflects only the current status of what TV producers have taken to calling Hypercars.
Lot # 166 1973 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider, Body by Scaglietti; S/N 15369; Yellow/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $2,500,000 – $3,000,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $2,100,000 – Chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin X tires, power windows, Veglia air conditioning. – Toasted in 1994 when it was rear-ended and the ruptured fuel tank caught fire. Subsequently repaired with factory-sourced body panels. Very good recent paint, interior and chrome. Old undercoat in wheelwells. Clean orderly engine compartment. Ferrari Classiche certified. – Sold by Brooks at Quail Lodge in 1999 for $354,500 but not presented very well here and failed to get the bidders’ attention (or maybe the fire story got more attention.) In any event the bidders made a realistic offer for this Daytona Spider’s condition and history.
Lot # 167 1978 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser Hardtop 4×4; S/N FJ40273094; Beige, -white roof/Black leatherette; Estimate $70,000 – $90,000; Truck restoration, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $75,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $82,500 – Warn front hubs, power steering, center facing rear seats, rollbar, rear-mounted spare, barn rear doors, hubcaps, Mud-Terrain tires, lifted, HFS shocks. – Good paint and interior. Frame and suspension redone to offroad driver standards. Driven since and shows it. – FJ40 prices bounce all over with little chance of predictability. Bidders are seemingly led on by estimate ranges and willing to pay dearly for sound but not exceptional examples like this. It would not have been an exceptional value at $50,000.
RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2016 – Auction Report Page Five
Lot # 169 1957 Arnolt Bristol Bolide Roadster, Body by Bertone; S/N 404X3074; Engine # BS1MKII267; Dark Blue, Orange/Black vinyl; Estimate $325,000 – $375,000; Competition restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $260,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $286,000 – 1971/132hp, 4-speed, silver steel wheels with hub caps, Vredestein Sprint Classic tires, Moto-Lita woodrim steering wheel, Simpson lap belts. – Uneven trunk gaps. Long cracks at the top of the trunk. Several cracks, chips and blisters around the hood. Wavy bodywork on the driver’s side, and that door bows out at the bottom. Good interior. Sold new in Oakland and raced in Northern California. Equipped with a small-block Chevy and nine-inch Ford rear end at some point. Mechanically restored with the original Bristol engine and aftermarket aluminum radiator, backup electric fuel pump and electronic ignition in 2009. Wearing paint from the 1970s. A driver quality car, at its best on the open road or race track. – Highly regarded for their light weight and excellent performance, this reasonably well maintained vintage racer should be competitive on the track or an exciting ride on vintage tours. At this price the new owner can do pretty much anything with it without concern for losing value.
Lot # 170 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Sedanca Drophead Coupe, Body by H.J. Mulliner; S/N 120SK; Engine # GH55; Masons Black, Pewter Grey/Light Grey leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $450,000 – $650,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $500,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $550,000 – RHD. Lucas headlights and dip beam light, teardrop fenders, spats, immense luggage trunk, enclosed rear mounted spare, polished wheel discs. – An older concours restoration holding up very well. Body has some edge chips and small cracks at stress points. Chassis and underbody show age and miles but are clean and orderly. The older interior is good but lightly worn. An imposing motor car with bery pleasing lines. – Offered by RM at Hershey in 2008 with a reported high bid of $430,000 and now showing just under 100 more miles on the odometer, it was sold by RM in Arizona in 2010 for $357,500. Its condition has changed little in the past eight years but it struck a chord with the bidders here who paid generously for it.
Lot # 171 1931 Bentley 8 Liter Tourer, Body by Swallow; S/N YF5013; Engine # YF5013; British Racing Green/Green leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,000,000 – $1,250,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $850,000 – RHD. Body color wire wheels, Lucas headlights, driving lights, folding windshield, wind wings, overdrive – Originally delivered to Paris as the continental demonstrator and bodied there by Saoutchik. Chassis shortened and this body built by Swallow (not William Lyons’ Swallow) during restoration in the 60’s. Very good paint, chrome, interior and top. Clean, orderly engine compartment, older chassis showing both use and age but more than good enough to tour and show proudly at the end of the day – This is a prodigious automobile but with a somewhat checkered history that deterred bidders’ enthusiasm for it. It’s not that much different, however, from many other 8-Liter Bentleys and it would not be at all surprising to see it sell for the low estimate or more.
Lot # 172 1953 Siata 300BC Barchetta, Body by Bertone; S/N ST438BC; Engine # ST438BC; Red/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $180,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $198,000 – 1089/51hp Fiat engine, two single-barrel Webers, 4-speed, painted Borrani wire wheels, woodrim steering wheel. – Incorrect AutoMeter speedometer. Modern tach and water temp gauges. Other gauges are original. Numerous touched up chips on an average quality old respray. Lots of chips around the hood, some touched up, some bare. Cracks on the right front fender. Doors are not flush. Body sides are not straight. Small dent on the right rear fender and another tiny one on the trunk lid. Original engine. Raced in the late 1950s in the Northeast. Never fully restored but has been repainted and gotten new upholstery and carpets. Numerous flaws, and on a car this tiny it’s hard to miss any of them, but it’s a rare etceterini with gorgeous lines and full documentation including the original bill of sale from Tony Pompeo and the canceled check for its purchase. One owner from new. – This is a prize, a maintained, largely original example of a famed marque with gorgeous Bertone Barchetta coachwork. Its early U.S. racing history encourage its acceptance into highly desirable events, possibly even the Mille Miglia where Fiat 1100-engined cars made up the bulk of the field, and it is a very good value for a car the new owner will own, drive and perhaps race with pride.
Lot # 173 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA Stradale Coupe, Body by Bertone; S/N AR613656; Engine # AR00502A81417; Red/Black vinyl; Estimate $275,000 – $325,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $260,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $286,000 – 1570/170hp, dual Webers, twin-plug ignition, 5-speed, Campagnolo wheels, Avon tires, Perspex windows, woodrim steering wheel, racing belts, rally odometer, fire system, roll cage. – Decent quality repaint. Dull Perspex windows. Good interior. Scratched exhaust tip. Originally white and delivered new in Italy. No known race history. 2004 restoration. Very pretty and in need of nothing, although it’s been prepped for driving events rather than show fields, and that’s a good thing. – Finding a largely original, largely unmolested GTA is almost unheard of, they were that good on the track or in rallies that they almost always got used, modified, crunched and then left to molder. This GTA has gotten attention as needed and is, simply, choice. It might have brought more with an illustrious racing history, but its appeal as a largely original GTA is undeniable and fully supports the price it brought. It’s too good to restore, but not to drive.
Lot # 174 1957 Ferrari 250 GT TdF Coupe; S/N 0619GT; Engine # 0619GT; Silver/Dark Blue leather; Estimate $5,500,000 – $7,500,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $4,250,000 – Borrani wire wheels with partially painted rims and tainted spokes and hubs, Michelin Pilote X 6.00×16 tires, air conditioning, covered headlights, Michelin headlights and grille-mounted fog lights, velocity stacks, cold air box. – Built as chassis 0805GT but given the number of an earlier Tour de France of its first owner, Pierre Noblet, who raced it with good results. Crashed in the mid-60’s, damaging both sides of the body. Eventually sold still damaged to Wayne Sparling in 1975 who built the present body, then drove it a lot. Dented, scuffed bright trim. Dull, dented bumpers. Painted door window frames. Musty smelling interior. Odd-shaped nose and indifferent paint. – The next owner of Wayne Sparling’s TdF will be faced with an interesting situation. In its present configuration it has history that a restoration would obscure, but it doesn’t look much like it did when Pierre Noblet raced it. It should be one of the more reliable TdFs after years of Sparling’s attention. Wrapped up and neatly tied, the pros and cons of this TdF probably mean the next owner will promptly send it to Maranello for a new body and full restoration under Ferrari’s supervision. Unless the market turns upside down in the next few years what will come out the other end of that process will be a Red Book Certified car that will be worth eight figures. It is a long, involved process that carries no small amount of risk, entails a material investment of time and attention, and involves inevitable considerations of opportunity cost while it is in process. In that complicated equation the reported high bid here is not unreasonable.
Lot # 175 1956 Austin-Healey 100/M Le Mans Roadster; S/N BN2L230740; Engine # 1B230740M; Black, Red/Red; Estimate $160,000 – $200,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $200,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $220,000 – 4-speed with overdrive, silver painted wire wheels, woodrim steering wheel, tools, jack, wheel hammer, spare and full weather equipment. – Represented as matching numbers. Very good paint, chrome and interior with two tiny dents in the front bumper and some surface rust poking through on the wheel spokes and brake drums. Underbody is orderly but used and a little dirty. Runs on three cylinders. – Apparently the stuttering on its way off the preview field was resolved before it reached the block because the bidders responded enthusiastically to this 100/M, as well they should have. A rare and highly desirable car that should be great to show off the delightful driving characteristics of the early Austin-Healeys
RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2016 – Auction Report Page Six
Lot # 176 1958 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible; S/N K558H1951; Rangoon Red, Greystone White accent/Red, White vinyl; White vinyl top; Estimate $125,000 – $150,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $110,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $121,000 – 370/310hp fuel injection, automatic, power windows, Trans-Portable radio, power steering, dual spotlight-mirrors, wheel covers, whitewalls, bucket seats. – Minor flawed trim chrome, otherwise clean and better than new. – Even surrounded by classics and six- and seven-figure sports car this Bonneville made a distinct, definite statement. It is gorgeous and with its FI engine one of the most rare of all Pontiacs. A 348 Tri-Power Impala convertible would bring this much or more so while collectors overlook Pontiacs (as well as Mercurys) the new owner of this Bonneville got a wonderful car at an astute price.
Lot # 178 1969 Maserati Ghibli Coupe, Body by Ghia; S/N AM1151160; Engine # AM1151160; Verde Pino/White leather; Estimate $325,000 – $375,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $290,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $319,000 – 4709/310hp, four Webers, 5-speed, Campagnolo wheels, Vredestein Sprint Classic tires, Ferrero leather-wrapped steering wheel, power windows, Audiovox pushbutton radio. – Detailed and restored but lightly used engine bay. Wheels are a bit dirty. Driver’s side door is not flush with the body. Very good paint and chrome. Very lightly worn seats. Fully restored and showing light age, but still gorgeous. – This is about a third the price of a Daytona, but a Ghibli is way more than a third the car. The result is appropriate, but still represents excellent inherent value.
Lot # 179 1963 Shelby Cobra 289 Roadster; S/N CSX2188; Black/Red leather; Estimate $950,000 – $1,200,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,050,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,155,000 – 289/306hp, 4-speed, AC-stamped wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires, wind wings, AC woodrim steering wheel, heater. – Cracked steering wheel cap. Sound older paint. Driver’s side door not quite flush. Very good interior. Tidy underneath. Originally white over red. Modified as a drag racer in the latter part of the 1960s. Restored to current presentation in the 1980s, date coded replacement engine, original transmission. Showing age but doesn’t need anything major. – This is what it costs to own a quality, restored rack and pinion Cobra 289 these days.
Lot # 180 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Trans Am; S/N 9908H046; Blue, Yellow “Sunoco”/Black; Estimate $900,000 – $1,200,000; Competition restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $900,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $990,000 – 302/420p, crossram cowl induction dual quads, Torque Thrust style wheels, Goodyear Blue Streaks, Corvette 4-wheel disc brakes. – The Real Deal, the third of six Sunoco Camaros built at Penske and raced by Mark Donohue, Sam Posey and others including Daytona and Sebring in 1968. Later raced in Europe. Restored in the 90’s in its original Sunoco livery, competed 8 times at Monterey. Authenticated by Ron Fournier, who built it for Penske. Very good paint and chrome. Sharp, clean engine compartment and gutted interior. Vintage race ready, then show it at the end of the day. – This Camaro had a nearly 20-year competition history before it was restored, a measure of how competitive not only it but the whole Trans Am field was in 1968. It is a real race car, beautifully restored and presented and there can be no argument with the price it brought.
Lot # 181 2011 Ferrari 599 GTO Coupe; S/N ZFF70RCA1B0179533; Engine # 171291; Metallic Red (Rosso Fuoco), Grey stripe/Grey, Charcoal Alcantara; Estimate $650,000 – $750,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $625,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $687,500 – F1 gearbox, carbon fiber trim, Grey alloy wheels, parking sensors, Bose stereo, Alcantara steering wheel rim, telemetry kit, carbon fiber splitter. – Two owners and 7,200km from new and might as well be a new car, it’s that clean. Ferrari Classiche certified. – 599 GTO prices are not only few and far between, they’re also erratic but trending upward in line with comparable examples of Ferrari’s top-performing front engined GTs. This result is in line with the trend.
Lot # 184 1957 Buick Roadmaster Model 76C Convertible; S/N 7D4021740; Engine # G1637; Black, Red/Red leather; Black vinyl top; Estimate $80,000 – $100,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $135,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $148,500 – Dynaflow, power steering, power brakes, WonderBar radio, chrome wheels, whitewalls, power windows, power bench seat. – Restored like new and, although it’s not fresh, it is very pretty and will turn heads even faster than a Cadillac. – Sold by Worldwide in Houston in 2008 for $214,500, then by RM in Arizona in 2011 for $121,000. It’s still pretty much the same car it was in ’08 just with 151 more miles rolled up on its odometer and it still makes a dramatic visual presentation.
Lot # 188 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet A, Body by Sindelfingen; S/N 408371; Two Tone Red/Tan leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $3,000,000 – $4,000,000; Concours restoration, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $2,800,000 – 5-speed, chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, dual sidemounts, Bosch headlights, dip beam lights, dual spotlights with mirrors, trafficators, raked vee windshield, set back radiator, chevron grille guard. – Plain white instrument panel, older gauges, very good interior wood. Upholstery is lightly surface creased. Paint and chrome are very good. An older concours restoration by Mike Fennel in the early 90’s with an attractive and understated livery and a provenance that is hard to match: James Melton, Otis Chandler, Axel Wars and General William Lyon. – The vee windshield and set back radiator are characteristics of the famed Special Roadsters and are known to have been ordered on only this and one other Cab A. The caliber of the Mike Fennel restoration is apparent from the way it remains some two decades later. The different between the reported high bid and the low estimate seems like it could have been bridged to make a sale work.
RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2016 – Auction Report Page Seven
Lot # 189 1956 HRG 1500 Alloy Roadster, Body by St. Leonards; S/N WS231; Engine # 18GKEH24385; Black, Red/Red leather; Estimate $150,000 – $200,000; Competition restoration, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $130,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $143,000 – RHD. 1789/94hp BMC engine, dual SU carbs with K&N filters, Lucas headlights, King of the Road driving light, single wing mirror on passenger’s side, painted centerlock wire wheels, BFG Long Miler tires, rear-mounted spare wheel, black vinyl boot cover, folding windshield, Brooklands aero screens, Simpson racing belts, bucket seats, banjo steering wheel, dash clock. – The original Singer engine is included. Rare, very late production HRG. Very good paint and interior. Tidy, detailed but used engine bay. Clean chassis. Very pretty, but not too good to worry about it while blasting through the countryside or around a track. It is also very unlikely to see itself coming the other way. A car that looks like pure fun, and a sure standout in a field of MGs and Morgans. – Even more rare and charismatic than a Morgan, a throwback to traditional English sports cars. It has been restored to high standards without going over the top and is a sound value for its rarity, effect and performance at this price.
Lot # 190 1960 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk I BN7 Roadster; S/N HBN7L1780; Engine # 29DRUH12507; Opalescent Silver Grey/Red leather; Black leatherette top; Estimate $80,000 – $100,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $66,000 – Chrome wire wheels, BFG tires, overdrive 4-speed, heater. – A Kurt Tanner restoration. Very good paint, chrome and interior. Engine compartment is like new, as is the underbody. Not fresh, but very well done and maintained. – Sold at Barrett-Jackson in 2010 for $68,200, then at Mecum Monterey in 2012 for $76,850 and now settled back to earth with this result
Lot # 193 1972 Ferrari 365 GTC/4 Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 15211; Engine # 276; Red/Black leather; Estimate $325,000 – $375,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $310,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $341,000 – Six Webers, Ansa exhaust, Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires, leather-wrapped steering wheel, Blaupunkt cassette stereo, Veglia dash clock, power windows, air conditioning. – Shiny but wavy bumper plastic. Good shiny repaint. Cracks at bottom of B-pillar. Tiny chip at the back of the hood. Lightly worn interior. Newer upholstery and vinyl padded dash, but original everywhere else inside. A US market car showing 7,478 miles. Restored during a stint of ownership in Switzerland. – Sold by RM in Monterey in 2001 for $55,000, then sold at Worldwide Auburn in 2008 for $159,500. Sold again by RM in Monterey in 2011 for $170,500 and one more time by RM in Scottsdale in 2013 for $176,000. GTC/4s have really gained a following since this car’s last appearance, and even an imperfect auction veteran like this isn’t a surprise at 300 grand.
Lot # 195 1934 Auburn 1250 Salon Phaeton; S/N 12501604H; Engine # BB2481U; Red, Dark Red accent and fenders/Beige leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $375,000 – $450,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $300,000 – Chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, dual enclosed sidemounts with mirrors, Pilot-Rays, Crosley radio with steering column controls. – Good older paint, interior, chrome, glass and top. Engine is chipped and showing age. Chassis is older than the exterior cosmetics and shows more miles, too. Steering wheel, dash and instruments are aged and dull. It’s an attractive Auburn, from a distance. – The bidders distanced themselves from it, too, realizing that it will need more than a little attention to bring its presentation up to the caliber deserved by the caliber of the car.
Lot # 196 1971 Intermeccanica Italia Convertible; S/N 50385414; Red/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $110,000 – $160,000; Modified restoration, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $120,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $132,000 – 351/400hp Ford Windsor engine, chrome centerlock wire wheels, Pirelli all-season tires, black cloth boot cover, Hurst shifter, Nardi woodrim steering wheel, power windows, modern Pioneer stereo. – Good older paint and chrome. Good older interior. Lightly used engine bay and underbody. Fully done over a while ago and only showing light, general wear. It’s not often you see a Hurst shifter and a Nardi wheel in the same car, but that’s the Italo-American nature of the Intermeccanica. During restoration, the engine was reportedly uprated to 400 horsepower, but no information is provided on what exactly was done. – The Italia’s design carries the car far beyond the relatively mundane American innards and elevates it to a price point like this, well above a comparably restored Corvette.
Lot # 197 1961 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N 10867S109208; Engine # 1109208F0604CQ; Red, White coves, Red hardtop/Red vinyl; White vinyl top; Estimate $85,000 – $105,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $110,000 – 283/230hp, 4-speed, WonderBar radio, spinner wheel covers, whitewalls, two tops, power windows. – Represented as numbers matching. Four new tires. Good older paint and interior. Weak windshield post chrome, wavy rechromed bumpers. Cracked behind the deck lid with several paint flaws there, paint buffed through on the hood corners, cracked by the window sill trim on the passenger’s door. Underbody and suspension are old and dirty. Uneven door gaps. The engine compartment is better than the rest of the Corvette. – ‘Rare power windows’ does not account for the price this base-engined Corvette with an aged and flawed restoration brought. $55-60,000 would have been more than enough for it.
Lot # 198 1964 Peel P50 Coupe; S/N D535; Red/Black; Estimate $75,000 – $100,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $160,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $176,000 – Three wheels, 49cc Zweirad-Union 2-stroke engine. – The product of the only known automobile manufacturer on the Isle of Man. Restored to the high standards of Bruce Weiner and now showing only a little age. – Sold at RM’s auction of Bruce Weiner’s collection in 2013 for $120,750 where a video of a drag race between the Peel and a Shelby Mustang GT350 was featured showing the Shelby driver visibly aging while waiting for the Peel to arrive at the finish line. In most cases the disposition sales of well known collections bring fantastic prices that are rarely if ever duplicated later. Estimated at $35-45,000 in the Weiner sale the Peel fulfilled the fantastic part of that statement, however here it was emphatically eclipsed, something that almost never happens within three years. There is no substitute for cute.
[Source: Rick Carey]